Kadamba shikara (tower) with Kalasa (pinnacle) on top, Doddagaddavalli.

Kadambas originated from Karnataka, was founded by Mayurasharma in 345 CE which at later times
showed the potential of developing into imperial proportions. King Mayurasharma defeated the
armies of Pallavas of Kanchi possibly with help of some native tribes. The Kadamba fame reached its
peak during the rule of Kakusthavarma, a notable ruler with whom the kings of Gupta Dynasty of
northern India cultivated marital alliances. The Kadambas were contemporaries of the Western
Ganga Dynasty and together they formed the earliest native kingdoms to rule the land with absolute
autonomy. The dynasty later continued to rule as a feudatory of larger Kannada empires, the
Chalukya and the Rashtrakuta empires, for over five hundred years during which time they branched
into minor dynasties (Kadambas of Goa, Kadambas of Halasi and Kadambas of Hangal).

Empire of Harsha

Main articles: Harsha and Pushyabhuti dynasty

Harsha ruled northern India from 606 to 647 CE. He was the son of Prabhakarvardhana and the
younger brother of Rajyavardhana, who were members of the Vardhana dynasty and ruled
Thanesar, in present-day Haryana.

Coin of Emperor Harsha, c. 606–647 CE.[164]

After the downfall of the prior Gupta Empire in the middle of the 6th century, North India reverted
to smaller republics and monarchical states. The power vacuum resulted in the rise of the Vardhanas
of Thanesar, who began uniting the republics and monarchies from the Punjab to central India. After
the death of Harsha's father and brother, representatives of the empire crowned Harsha emperor in
April 606 CE, giving him the title of Maharaja.[165] At the height of his power, his Empire covered
much of North and Northwestern India, extended East until Kamarupa, and South until Narmada
River; and eventually made Kannauj (in present Uttar Pradesh) his capital, and ruled until 647
CE.[166]

The peace and prosperity that prevailed made his court a centre of cosmopolitanism, attracting
scholars, artists and religious visitors.[166] During this time, Harsha converted to Buddhism from
Surya worship.[167] The Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited the court of Harsha and wrote a very
favourable account of him, praising his justice and generosity.[166] His biography Harshacharita
("Deeds of Harsha") written by Sanskrit poet Banabhatta, describes his association with Thanesar
and the palace with a two-storied Dhavalagriha (White Mansion).[168][169]

Early medieval period (mid 6th c.–1200 CE)

Main articles: Medieval India, Decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent, and Tripartite
Struggle

Early medieval India began after the end of the Gupta Empire in the 6th century CE.[121] This period
also covers the "Late Classical Age" of Hinduism, which began after the collapse of the Empire of
Harsha in the 7th century CE,[170] and ended in the 13th century with the rise of the Delhi Sultanate
in Northern India;[171] the beginning of Imperial Kannauj, leading to the Tripartite struggle; and the
end of the Later Cholas with the death of Rajendra Chola III in 1279 in Southern India; however some
aspects of the Classical period continued until the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire in the south
around the 17th century.

From the fifth century to the thirteenth, Śrauta sacrifices declined, and initiatory traditions of
Buddhism, Jainism or more commonly Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism expanded in royal
courts.[172] This period produced some of India's finest art, considered the epitome of classical
development, and the development of the main spiritual and philosophical systems which continued
to be in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

In the 7th century CE, Kumārila Bhaṭṭa formulated his school of Mimamsa philosophy and defended
the position on Vedic rituals against Buddhist attacks. Scholars note Bhaṭṭa's contribution to the
decline of Buddhism in India.[173] In the 8th century, Adi Shankara travelled across the Indian
subcontinent to propagate and spread the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta, which he consolidated; and
is credited with unifying the main characteristics of the current thoughts in
Hinduism.[174][175][176] He was a critic of both Buddhism and Minamsa school of
Hinduism;[177][178][179][180] and founded mathas (monasteries) for the spread and development
of Advaita Vedanta.[181] Muhammad bin Qasim's invasion of Sindh (modern Pakistan) in 711 CE
witnessed further decline of Buddhism.[182]

From the 8th to the 10th century, three dynasties contested for control of northern India: the
Gurjara Pratiharas of Malwa, the Palas of Bengal, and the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan. The Sena
dynasty would later assume control of the Pala Empire; the Gurjara Pratiharas fragmented into
various states, notably the Paramaras of Malwa, the Chandelas of Bundelkhand, the Kalachuris of
Mahakoshal, the Tomaras of Haryana, and the Chauhans of Rajputana, these states were some of
the earliest Rajput kingdoms;[183] while the Rashtrakutas were annexed by the Western
Chalukyas.[184] During this period, the Chaulukya dynasty emerged; the Chaulukyas constructed the
Dilwara Temples, Modhera Sun Temple, Rani ki vav[185] in the style of Māru-Gurjara architecture,
and their capital Anhilwara (modern Patan, Gujarat) was one of the largest cities in the Indian
subcontinent, with the population estimated at 100,000 in 1000 CE.

The Chola Empire emerged as a major power during the reign of Raja Raja Chola I and Rajendra
Chola I who successfully invaded parts of Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka in the 11th century.[186]
Lalitaditya Muktapida (r. 724–760 CE) was an emperor of the Kashmiri Karkoṭa dynasty, which
exercised influence in northwestern India from 625 CE until 1003, and was followed by Lohara
dynasty. Kalhana in his Rajatarangini credits king Lalitaditya with leading an aggressive military
campaign in Northern India and Central Asia.[187][188][189]

The Hindu Shahi dynasty ruled portions of eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan, and Kashmir from
the mid-7th century to the early 11th century. While in Odisha, the Eastern Ganga Empire rose to
power; noted for the advancement of Hindu architecture, most notable being Jagannath Temple and
Konark Sun Temple, as well as being patrons of art and literature.

Martand Sun Temple Central shrine, dedicated to the deity Surya, and built by the third ruler of the
Karkota dynasty, Lalitaditya Muktapida, in the 8th century CE.

Martand Sun Temple Central shrine, dedicated to the deity Surya, and built by the third ruler of the
Karkota dynasty, Lalitaditya Muktapida, in the 8th century CE.

Konark Sun Temple at Konark, Orissa, built by Narasimhadeva I (1238–1264 CE) of the Eastern Ganga
dynasty.

Konark Sun Temple at Konark, Orissa, built by Narasimhadeva I (1238–1264 CE) of the Eastern Ganga
dynasty.

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in the Khajuraho complex was built by the Chandelas.

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in the Khajuraho complex was built by the Chandelas.

Jagannath Temple at Puri, built by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

Jagannath Temple at Puri, built by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

Chalukya Empire

Main article: Chalukya Empire

The Chalukya Empire ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th
centuries, as three related yet individual dynasties. The earliest dynasty, known as the "Badami
Chalukyas", ruled from Vatapi (modern Badami) from the middle of the 6th century. The Badami
Chalukyas began to assert their independence at the decline of the Kadamba kingdom of Banavasi
and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakeshin II. The rule of the Chalukyas marks an
important milestone in the history of South India and a golden age in the history of Karnataka. The
political atmosphere in South India shifted from smaller kingdoms to large empires with the
ascendancy of Badami Chalukyas. A Southern India-based kingdom took control and consolidated
the entire region between the Kaveri and the Narmada rivers. The rise of this empire saw the birth of
efficient administration, overseas trade and commerce and the development of new style of
architecture called "Chalukyan architecture". The Chalukya dynasty ruled parts of southern and
central India from Badami in Karnataka between 550 and 750, and then again from Kalyani between
970 and 1190.

Galaganatha Temple at Pattadakal complex (UNESCO World Heritage) is an example of Badami

Chalukya architecture.

Galaganatha Temple at Pattadakal complex (UNESCO World Heritage) is an example of Badami

Chalukya architecture.

Bhutanatha temple complex at Badami, next to a waterfall, during the monsoon.

Bhutanatha temple complex at Badami, next to a waterfall, during the monsoon.

Vishnu image inside the Badami Cave Temple Complex. The complex is an example of Indian rock-cut
architecture.

Vishnu image inside the Badami Cave Temple Complex. The complex is an example of Indian rock-cut
architecture.

8th century Durga temple exterior view at Aihole complex. Aihole complex includes Hindu, Buddhist
and Jain temples and monuments.

8th century Durga temple exterior view at Aihole complex. Aihole complex includes Hindu, Buddhist
and Jain temples and monuments.

Rashtrakuta Empire

Main article: Rashtrakuta Empire

Founded by Dantidurga around 753,[190] the Rashtrakuta Empire ruled from its capital at
Manyakheta for almost two centuries.[191] At its peak, the Rashtrakutas ruled from the Ganges-
Yamuna Doab in the north to Cape Comorin in the south, a fruitful time of architectural and literary
achievements.[192][193]

The early rulers of this dynasty were Hindu, but the later rulers were strongly influenced by
Jainism.[194] Govinda III and Amoghavarsha were the most famous of the long line of able
administrators produced by the dynasty. Amoghavarsha was also an author and wrote
Kavirajamarga, the earliest known Kannada work on poetics.[191][195] Architecture reached a
milestone in the Dravidian style, the finest example of which is seen in the Kailasanath Temple at
Ellora. Other important contributions are the Kashivishvanatha temple and the Jain Narayana temple
at Pattadakal in Karnataka.

The Arab traveller Suleiman described the Rashtrakuta Empire as one of the four great Empires of
the world.[196] The Rashtrakuta period marked the beginning of the golden age of southern Indian
mathematics. The great south Indian mathematician Mahāvīra had a huge impact on medieval south
Indian mathematicians.[197] The Rashtrakuta rulers also patronised men of letters in a variety of
languages.[191]

Kailasa temple, is one of the largest rock-cut ancient Hindu temples located in Ellora.

Kailasa temple, is one of the largest rock-cut ancient Hindu temples located in Ellora.

Shikhara of Indra Sabha at Ellora Caves.

Shikhara of Indra Sabha at Ellora Caves.

Statue of the Buddha seated. A part of the Carpenter's cave (Buddhist Cave 10).

Statue of the Buddha seated. A part of the Carpenter's cave (Buddhist Cave 10).

Jain Tirthankara Mahavira with Yaksha Matanga and Yakshi Siddhaiki at Ellora Caves.

Jain Tirthankara Mahavira with Yaksha Matanga and Yakshi Siddhaiki at Ellora Caves.

Gurjara-Pratihara Empire

Main article: Gurjara-Pratihara Empire

The Gurjara-Pratiharas were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the Indus River.
Nagabhata I defeated the Arab army under Junaid and Tamin during the Umayyad campaigns in
India.[198] Under Nagabhata II, the Gurjara-Pratiharas became the most powerful dynasty in
northern India. He was succeeded by his son Ramabhadra, who ruled briefly before being succeeded
by his son, Mihira Bhoja. Under Bhoja and his successor Mahendrapala I, the Pratihara Empire
reached its peak of prosperity and power. By the time of Mahendrapala, its territory stretched from
the border of Sindh in the west to Bihar in the east and from the Himalayas in the north to around
the Narmada River in the south.[199] The expansion triggered a tripartite power struggle with the
Rashtrakuta and Pala empires for control of the Indian subcontinent.